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Tom Brady has the most Super Bowl rings of any active quarterback in the NFL. Ben Roethlisberger is second on that list. So, it’s no surprise that Big Ben counts championships above all else when judging greatness.

The Steelers quarterback spoke highly of the his Patriots counterpart on Tuesday, praising Brady for his long and successful career and pointing to his three Super Bowl wins when identifying him as the best in the NFL.

“I speak off championships,” Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh. “That’s no disrespect to some of these other guys that are doing some amazing things in the NFL right now. But to me, it’s about wins and championships, and he’s got more championships than anybody. So to me, he’s the best quarterback in the league, and he’s done it for a long time. . . . The number one factor is championships.”

Brady has more than just championships to back his credentials as the NFL’s best, though. He’s been to the playoffs in 10 of his 11 full seasons as a starter. He’s led the Patriots to five Super Bowl appearances — tied for most all time. And he has two MVP trophies on his resume. So, it’s not as if he’s merely clinging to his rings for entrance into the conversation.

Brady, 36, has long been compared with Peyton Manning in the debate about the league’s top signal-caller. Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees have joined that discussion in recent years, with Roethlisberger, Eli Manning and a few others taking a backseat to that core four. The unifying factor between all of them is the presence of at least one Super Bowl win. Yet, while Roethlisberger and Eli both have two to their name, Peyton, who has only won it all once, is still rated higher on that list, which somewhat dilutes Roethlisberger’s claim.

While the other continue to creep closer onto their heels, Brady and Manning continue to rule the quarterback debate, even as they delve into their late 30s. Brady’s history of postseason success give him a slight advantage on some fronts, meanwhile Manning’s four MVPs and countless passing records seem to give him a leg up.

The debate will rage on well after both players are long retired, but it seems Roethlisberger’s mind is already made up. We’ll see if his opinion changes any after getting a first-hand look at Brady when the Steelers visit Foxboro on Sunday.